Who May Operate a Boat and Personal Watercraft - updated 6-5-2014
Who May Operate a Boat
•Those less than 12 years of age:
May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower (hp)
legally without restrictions.
May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp but no more than 35
hp legally only if - they have been issued a boating safety
certificate and have it on board the boat and - they are directly
supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
May not operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp legally under
any conditions.
•Those over 12 years of age:
NEW LAW: “Those born on or after July 1, 1996, may operate a
boat legally only if they have been issued a boating safety certificate and
have it on board the boat.”
•Those born before July 1, 1996:
May operate a boat legally without restrictions.”
Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)
•Those less than 14 years of age may not legally operate a
PWC.
•Those 14 and 15 years of age may operate a
PWC legally only if he or she obtained a boating safety certificate and….
He or she is accompanied on board by his or her parent or legal guardian or
by a person at least 21 years of age who has been designated by the parent
or legal guardian or…
He or she is operating or riding the PWC at a distance of not more than 100
feet from his or her parent or legal guardian or from a person at least 21
years of age who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian.
•Those 16 years of age and born after
December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally only if they have
obtained a boating safety certificate.
• Those born before December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally
without restrictions.
